Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur Military Air Base in Syria's northwestern Idlib province caused renewed tensions in the region. Türkiye strongly condemned the attack and accused Israel of violating Syria's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Syrian state media reported that Israel carried out eight airstrikes on Abu al-Duhur Air Base on the morning of August 18. The strikes caused material damage to the runway and some storage areas, while no deaths were reported.
Deputy Foreign Minister and Special Envoy for Syria Nuh Yılmaz strongly condemned Israel's actions in a statement following the attack.
Yılmaz said Israel was continuing its attacks targeting Syria's infrastructure and capabilities, emphasizing that these actions violated the country's territorial integrity and unity.
Türkiye also called on the international community to take a firmer stance against Israel's attacks on Syria and ensure accountability when international law is violated.
The United States also reacts
Israel's attack drew a reaction not only from Türkiye and Syria but also from the United States. Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Türkiye and special envoy for Syria, described the attack as “unnecessary tension” and said Washington supported a diplomatic solution.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani also described the attack as a violation of his country's sovereignty and said Israel's actions threatened regional stability.
Why is Abu al-Duhur Air Base important?
Abu al-Duhur Air Base in Idlib province is located approximately 70 kilometers from the Turkish border. The base, which was one of the main centers of fighting during Syria's civil war for an extended period, came under the control of different forces over the years.
In recent months, work had been underway to reactivate the base as part of efforts to rebuild Syria's military infrastructure. AP reported that Türkiye was also supporting the base's rehabilitation efforts.
Reuters noted that the attack was Israel's first strike on military assets belonging to the Syrian government since March. Ankara is also among the main actors supporting the rebuilding of the new Syrian administration's military and institutional capacity.
The Israeli army did not issue a detailed public statement on the attack. The strike came at a time when Türkiye's support for the military structure in Syria and Israel's growing security concerns in the region were once again coming into conflict.
